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Describes an effort to explore the relationship between objective measures of product quality and country of origin. Consumers Union ratings of automobile maintenance performance are used as objective quality measures. Effects were examined when considering three different functions: location of headquarters, origin of parts and place of assembly. Price‐quality relationships were estimated and compared. Finally, a subjective measure of automobiles (owner satisfaction) was compared with the objective measure, across all cases and by country of origin. Results revealed objective quality comparisons differed. Both the price‐objective quality relationships and differences in objective versus subjective quality ratings varied between foreign and US vehicles. Examining the objective quality – country of origin relationship via different country of origin measures offers marketers insight in understanding the basis for apparent preferences found in some perceptual studies.

The purpose of this study is to explore the expectations and experiences regarding a robotic shower, from a dual user perspective.

This was an explorative qualitative study in which elderly and personnel were interviewed before the robotic shower was installed and again after four or five months of usage.

The elderly participants found the robotic shower empowering. The personnel’s experiences encompassed their own work conditions, as well as the user value for the elderly. A shared experience for both user groups was a more independent shower situation for the elderly.

Low user frequency among the elderly may have affected the results; more frequent use may lead to different user experiences. Understanding whether and to what extent long-term use affects user experience is important for future adoption and implementation.

Implementation of digital assistive technology (DAT) should focus on the user value of the DAT for all possible user groups, as the different users may experience different values over time. In addition, approaching adoption and acceptance issues of DAT from a learned helplessness perspective may help users find value in the DAT and the independence these aim to provide, helping users maintain or increase quality of life.

This study presents a dual user experience of a DAT in an intimate care situation and shows the importance of including both elderly and personnel to fully understand the value of DATs.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the indicators of quality in care for people working and living in aged residential care (ARC) settings.

This research was conducted using an ethnographic design in two distinct ARC facilities in a New Zealand city, a large facility with residential, dementia and hospital level care, and a small family owned facility providing residential care only. In total, 50 hours of observational data were collected, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 people, including managers, careworkers, nurses, family members and residents. These data were thematically analysed using the constant comparative method.

The main indicators of quality for staff, family and residents included: a home-like, friendly and safe environment; good medical and personal care; respect for the residents; and good staff. Participants also acknowledged the need for adjustments by residents to living in aged care; and the challenges of caring for increasingly frail residents.

Findings support the growing recognition of a need for resident-centred approaches to ARC that are reflected in government policy and regulatory apparatus. Managers in ARC facilities must balance adherence with health and safety standards, and providing an environment where their residents can enjoy a meaningful life that has purpose and value.

This study aims to indicate the reasons and provide practical suggestions to financial viability of the age-friendly housing as a sustainable construction.

The paper reviews the primary and secondary literary sources, logical approach and comparisons of real estate and socio-economic regional statistics and conducts analysis of case studies.

The study contains the results from empirical analysis on the topicality of an age-friendly built environment in the scientific literature. Key principles are identified for a current early stage of the development of a concept of the age-friendly housing. A research on the current socio-economic aspects of the creation of an age-friendly built environment is made. The practical cases of the age-friendly housing are inspected. Timely developed age-friendly housings may expect growing demands, but thorough calculation on future income is required.

The research is carried on a scale of two countries – the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of Latvia.

The paper provides new developments in construction sector of Latvia and the Netherlands in terms of intention to further scientific and practical activities. The research has to identify the socio-economic aspects and the impact and importance of those in determining the revenues of age-friendly construction.

Age-friendly construction is going to become the standard of the sustainable property development, whereby the developers and investors will not make additional investments as they are compensated up front, and society as a total gets the revenues on the long term. Once this “wheel is turning”, the benefits will be permanent.

Latvia is being analysed in comparison with the Netherlands. The authors challenged to find opportunities to both countries from the economic viability’s point of view for the age-friendly housing developments.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the topics covered by coaches assisting teachers implementing a research‐based drug prevention program and explore how coaching affects student outcomes.

The All Stars drug prevention curriculum is implemented by 16 urban teachers who received four coaching sessions. Two coaches participated. Coaches are interviewed by investigators to assess topics covered. Students completed pre‐test‐post‐test measures of mediators and substance use behaviours.

The average teacher is coached on 11.7 different topics, out of a total of 23 topics. Coaching topics most heavily emphasized include: introduction and wrap up; time management; general classroom management; teacher's movement around the class; asking open‐ended questions; using students' questions, comments and examples to make desired points; general preparation; engaging high‐risk youth; reading from the curriculum; implementing activities correctly; focusing on objectives and goals; maintaining a focus on the task; and improving depth of understanding. Seven coaching topics are found to relate to changes in student mediators and behaviour.

The current study is exploratory. Future research should explore how teachers develop the particular skills required by prevention programs and how coaches can assist them.

Five levels of skill development are postulated, which coaches may address: fundamental teaching skills, mechanics of program delivery, development of an interactive teaching style, effective response to student input, and effective tailoring and adaptation.

The paper is one of a very few studies that explores how coaching impacts outcomes in substance abuse prevention.